Starting the day with half a pot of detox tea to cleanse after some naughtiness last week. I couldn't help it, the knockdown prices on some very posh mince pies and things were too good to resist. And I experienced Sainsbury's Cognac Extra Thick Double Cream which I have to say is one of THE most delicious and decadent things I have ever tasted. All thoughts of allergies went out the window as I gorged straight from the tub, didn't even add it to anything. Deeee-licious.
And see my new tea pot! A Christmas present from Kate which comes with it's own slinky silvery cover lined with felt (i think) to keep it all cosy. It doesn't just look sleek, it pours sleek too, very important. Thanks again Kate I'm really enjoying it.
More healthy nibbles. Today was one of those crisp winter days when it's very crisp and cold but the sun is bright. Celery and hummous seemed to fit the bill for nibbling in place of bad holiday chocs. Yummy.
And a dog walk, he liked the sheep, wasn't too bothered about the pigs but LOVED the llamas. Yes, llamas, they keep them 5 mins walk from my house. I think it's so great but let me till you, standing down wind from them is no delight, those big boys (or girls) really make a whiff. Or maybe it's all the goats that live with them. Either way, all very nasally interesting for a dog who came from the city.
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One of the nicest things about blogging, for me anyway, is visiting the sites of people who have left comments. I'm always amazed by the extreme diversity of people who seem interested to read my blog. In fact, I'm always amazed that anyone reads my blog at all so it's always a treat to find new people commenting (though my email still playing up so I don't get alerts, apologies if I've missed comments that are on older posts).
Yesterday I navigated to the website of Jimena Rios who had left a new comment and WOW what an amazing jeweller! This is exactly the kind of work that I really love, very quirky, some unusual materials and combinations of scale. I especially love the pieces with fabric in them, and of course, the ones that have turquoise and red together with silver. This is definitely someone who's work I will be keeping an eye on in the future.
Thanks to everyone who's sent good wishes for Ms P and for her recovery. If you'd like a to know about a bit about what she's been through she's written a brief and moving post here describing the development of her illness and what it was like to adapt to it at school.
The piece is only about her Crohn's Disease, not her severe allergies or any of the many other health problems she so amazingly deals with. I wish you could all meet her, I am permananetly inspired by her abilty to remain positive. I think many people in her position would just feel really bitter and angry but she is so determined to make the most of everything and to really live life to the full. Even the weekend before her surgery she was on stage acting in a Pantomime despite being in a lot of pain and having very little energy. Yet when you see her acting, you'd never know because she fills the role with such enthusiasm.
Funky speakers - details here.
Marley's golden syrup ears are so SOFT. And he has the most delicate ginger eyelashes.
Things were going pretty well with his training until a pushy know-it-all neighbour butted in when Marley was with his proper owner (who I'll call L). She started trying to tell L he must be trained her way (old fashioned bullying way) and then grabbed at him to illustrate. He was freaked by this and started to strain and his collar came off. L was in a panic cause by now he was barking and straining and she had to hold him by the scruff of the neck and try to get him indoors away from pushy dog lady.
Unfortunately pushy dog lady wouldn't let it lie and came harassing at the door with info about her dog trainer and being really aggressive about it, which set him on a barking frenzy. Now he has become a barker when he hears sounds outside the house. It's SO frustrating cause it wasn't an issue before and now I''m having to put hours and hours of extra work in to make sure it doesn't become a set habit. If it did it would drive neighbours crazy as mobile homes are not that sound proof.
I have grabbed a moment to just quickly write this while he is chewing on his toy. It is THE best toy I have ever seen for a dog that likes to chew, I'll need to post a photo of it so everyone can get one. Not that it is indestructable, he's a good chewer, but it will last better than most and gives a lot of satisfaction.
I hope you are all doing well out there in blog land, esp. Miss P who I am missing enormously now that I'm home again. She's doing pretty well with her wound causing less problems than before. It will take a long time though and she's desparate to start dancing again. I wish I could speed things along for her. Love you Miss P.
Been meaning to blog this bangle by Shimara Carlow who had work at Origin last year.
On the doggy side of things today was exhausting as I couldn't go to bed after work. He was pretty well behaved on the whole and seemed to react ok to being left in his house alone for an hour at a time. I reckon he's used to his previous owners going out to work.
He does have some very boisterous moments where he's jumping and trying to 'mouth' limbs (trying to do other things to limbs too but lets not get into that!). As a result my easily bruised legs looks a bit like a toddlers painting if you left them with just blue, black and brown paint.
His claws aren't particularly long or sharp but he has managed to scratch all down my legs even though I was wearing my thickest trousers. Hmmm, it's not that he's being aggressive, just that he is very muscley and weighty so his movements have more impact. A long soak in the bath is in order.
Meet Marley, isn't he lovely!
Not so lovely when he was discovering nature,. As a city dog previously, he was most thrilled to be taken to a field. Even more thrilled to find it full of sheep poo which he promtly rolled in. But you gotta love 'im anyway.
I (sort of ) have a new dog!
I say sort of because he is actually my neighbours new dog, but she could only get him if we agreed to share his care as she is out at work lots and couldn't give the time and walking a medium sized dog would need. I can give that part, but just don't have a dog safe home yet or enough money for food and healthcare - so this arrangement works great solving both our problems. We'd talked about this last year but it all suddenly came together this week.
We saw him on friday at the Rescue place and really liked him, then yesterday we went and got him! I may be a little blog absent as I will initially be spending all my free time with him in her home so he gets used to me, the new surroundings, life in a mobile home etc.
He's a 4 1/2 month old labrador cross, not sure what he's crossed with, something smaller, I think, than a Lab, more slender, with a longer face. He's many shades of cold with blonde shoulder blades and a few white bits. I'll post a pic soon. The name he already has is Marley so we're happy to just stick with that.
I'M SO HAPPY! I am such a dog person, and not being able to have one has been a bit heart breaking for me over the last few years. I feel like a part of my life is back on track now. If only the weather was nicer, we'll be having some very cold, very wet and muddy walks this week, but hey, it's so worth it. I'm a little worried about my health initially as I'll have to do a lot of extra work training him and he'll be particularly demanding until he is settled. But like I say, it will be totally worth it, and the health benefits will ultimately hopefully help with a lot of my problems. And, for me, psychologically I find it so comforting having a dog. Don't get me wrong, I love all the various cats that are in my life just now, but dogs are different and give something that cats don't. I've really missed that.
So I'll be squishing through mud, jumping in puddles, catching on hawthorns and scooping poop for the rest of January. Yey, bring it on.
One of Lucy Sarneel's brooches from 2006. It's very different from her old work but there is something about it that is reminiscent of her neckpieces of 2002/03 like the gorgeous textile one shown below, all found at Klimt02.
Ineke Heerkens plastic 'Water' earrings at Ornamentum gallery.
